Can Pakistan afford a billionaire crook living the high life at the expense of the poor citizens of Pakistan?
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
President Zardari spent 94/365 days out of country
ISLMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari spent at least 94 days out of the country on his foreign trips during the first year of his presidency. The president who took oath on September 9 last year spent almost every fourth day out of Pakistan, making more than 27 official, business and private trips to almost every corner of the globe. He made five trips to UK, four each to China and UAE, two each to UN, Iran and Turkey, and one each to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Libya, France, Russia, Belgium and Tajikistan. The full details of the expenses incurred on these trips is not yet known but the National Assembly (NA) was informed on March 12 this year that President Zardari’s nine visits abroad between September 2008 to March 2009 cost Rs 157.257 million to the national exchequer. By that time he had visited the UK, the US, the UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Afghanistan. The president’s entourage for the trips comprised 246 people. The House was also told that the official delegation of Pakistan to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, comprising 53 members, cost Rs 68,269,611 to the national kitty.
Visits in 2008
UAE and UK personal visit from Sep 12 to 17.
London: UN and London Sep 21 to 30 to attend the UN GA.
China: October 14-17: A four-day official trip to China.
Saudi Arabia: Two-day official trip from Nov 4 to 5.
UN for interfaith conference: Six-day visit from Nov 10 to 15.
UAE: First official visit from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26.
Turkey: Trilateral meeting from Dec 04 to Dec 06.
Visits in 2009
Afghanistan: Official visit Jan 06 to 07
China: Business visit to forge economic cooperation from Feb 20 to 24.
Iran: To meet Iranian leaders and attend ECO summit from March 10 to 11.
Turkey: For Third Trilateral summit from March 31 to April 01.
UAE: Private trip from April 13 to 14.
Japan: FODP and Donor Conference April 15 to 17.
China: To meet Chinese leaders and attend Boao Forum from April 17 to 19.
UAE: Private trip from April 27 to 28.
Libya: Official visit from April 30 to May 2.
UK: Private trip from May 3 to May 4.
US: Official visit from May 5 to 8. (Also stay in New York May 8 to May 13).
UK: Private visit while coming back form US from May 13 to May 15.
France: Official visit from May 15 to May 18.
Iran: To attend trilateral summit one-day on May 24.
Russia: To attend SCO summit from June 14 to 16.
Brussels: To attend first Pak-EU summit from June 17 to 19.
Tajikistan: To attend bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral meetings from July 28 to 29.
China: Business trip as part of quarterly visits from Aug 21 to 25.
UK: To formally invite UK PM for FoDP. Aug 26 to 30.